Why the heck these two women been running(ruining) this country for last 25/30 years? For as long as I can remember only these two have been in power. Is there no suitable person in this country? Most people that I have asked in Bangladesh dislikes them yet they win every time, why?

Originally Posted by TIKBoss
Why the heck these two women been running(ruining) this country for last 25/30 years? For as long as I can remember only these two have been in power. Is there no suitable person in this country? Most people that I have asked in Bangladesh dislikes them yet they win every time, why?

Because the same two-faced idiots who tell you that they hate Hasina and Khaleda vote for...wait for it...Hasina and Khaleda.

As an aside, could any BC member direct me to any well-researched books or long articles - in Bangla or in English - about Zia's time in power or Ershad's reign. There are fair few books on Sheikh Mujib but I think these two have received relatively scant attention and scrutiny. In particular, I'd love to read more about Ershad's policies and the student and popular movements of the '80s against him.

Originally Posted by Navo
As an aside, could any BC member direct me to any well-researched books or long articles - in Bangla or in English - about Zia's time in power or Ershad's reign. There are fair few books on Sheikh Mujib but I think these two have received relatively scant attention and scrutiny. In particular, I'd love to read more about Ershad's policies and the student and popular movements of the '80s against him.

Bangladesh: Reflections on the water by James Novak for a more contemporary analysis

Also google Jyoti Rahman's blog writeup on Zias legacy. will give links when I get home later.

Originally Posted by ammark
Bangladesh: Reflections on the water by James Novak for a more contemporary analysis

Also google Jyoti Rahman's blog writeup on Zias legacy. will give links when I get home later.

Wow, ammark, thanks a lot! I just ordered Novak's book of Amazon and it looks fascinating. I love books that blend history with literature and I think it's remarkably appropriate for a country like ours. I eagerly look forward to reading it (though I am disappointed that I didn't come across it sooner as I went through dozens of books on Bangladesh and the subcontinent while researching for my dissertation in Bangladesh, Germany, India and the UK.)

I'll look up Jyoti Rahman's blog as well. In addition to Zia's era, I'm really quite curious about Ershad's era. Everyone has heard about the corruption, his 'harem', the student protests and the building of some infrastructure but I'd like to know more. (I also know that he tried to decentralize the high court and that was met with extreme opposition by the lawyers - thus leading to the 8th amendment case) Look forward to seeing the links.

Btw, if you're interested, I'd really recommend reading the 5th Amendment and 8th Amendment cases of the BD Supreme Court. It's half legalese and half judicial story telling as the judges recount their version of Bangladesh's history. It's actually really interesting and it's easily available online. Also, if you have JSTOR, i'd recommend reading one of the first academic articles written on Bangladesh's Constitution - "Constitution Making in Bangladesh" by Abul Fazl Haq published in Pacific Affairs in Spring 1973. (If you don't have access to it, I'll happily send it/link it)

It's a good book to have if you like having a collection. By contemporary I meant that it was published just when 1st BNP govt came to power, and thus had a contemporary view of Mujib Zia and Ershad as the author was in BD throughout then. I personally got it off my uni library back in the day to read it. If I recall correctly it had a good account on Ershad that would be pertinent to your specific query.

Given a lot of historical revisionism that's been going on in the desh since the mid 90s, Novak's account might not be the most appetising in this day.

In addition to Zia's era, I'm really quite curious about Ershad's era. Everyone has heard about the corruption, his 'harem', the student protests and the building of some infrastructure but I'd like to know more.